October

On Friday, October 25, 2024, at approximately 12:30 AM, Sgt. Dube of the Northern Field Troop conducted a traffic stop on I-95 in Bangor for a speed violation. The operator of the vehicle was identified as 40-year-old Cyrus Griffin of New Haven, Connecticut.  Griffin was found to be operating without a valid driver’s license. Griffin was also found to be on parole in the State of Connecticut for homicide. After learning of the parole status, Tr. Doyle responded to the scene to assist. As a condition of his parole, Griffin was not supposed to be outside the State of Connecticut. During the stop, probable cause was developed to search the vehicle. The search revealed a loaded pistol was located under the driver’s seat. Due to his prior conviction and subsequent parole, Griffin is prohibited from being in possession of firearms. During the search of Griffin’s person and vehicle, officers located 375 grams of cocaine, 69 grams of cocaine base, and 142 grams of fentanyl xylazine. Approximately $2,100 in suspected drug proceeds were also seized. Numerous items related to the manufacture and sale of the illicit drugs were also located in the vehicle. Griffin was taken into custody and transported to the Penobscot County Jail where he is being held on $150,000 bond. The Maine State Police was assisted by our partners at the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency after the seizure. 

On Monday, October 28, 2024, at approximately 9:00 PM, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South and the Biddeford Police Department arrested 45-year-old Garret Labonte of Biddeford and 57-year-old Linda Lambert of Biddeford on charges stemming from the murder of 46-year-old Gene Dares. Labonte and Lambert were arrested at 63 South Street in Biddeford without incident. The homicide occurred in the area of 135-137 Foss Street in the city of Biddeford on September 27, 2024. Labonte is charged with Murder, Felony murder, and Robbery. Lambert is charged with Felony murder and Robbery. Labonte and Lambert are currently at the York County Jail and are expected to make their first court appearance tomorrow morning.

The adult male who was critically injured in the October 11^th stabbing in Palmyra succumbed to his injuries at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor on Friday, October 18, 2024. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy was performed. The deceased has been identified as 48-year-old Todd Parsons of Palmyra. The cause and manner of death are not being released at this time. The investigation is active and ongoing. There continues to be no known threat to the public. Additional information will be released when it’s available and appropriate to do so.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at approximately 9:26 PM, the Bangor Regional Communication Center (BRCC) received an Automated Crash Notification near mile marker 155 northbound on I-95 in Palmyra. Shortly after, the BRCC received several calls from motorists advising that a portion of the guardrail was in the northbound travel lanes and that a vehicle appeared to be in the median. The initial investigation indicates that a white Toyota 4Runner had gone off the roadway to the left, struck the guardrail, rolled over several times, and came to rest in the median. The operator of the Toyota 4Runner, 21-year-old Isaac Lemieux of Lewiston, was pronounced deceased on scene. Lemieux was not wearing his seatbelt. Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash. Several other vehicles that were driving northbound struck the guardrail that was in the left passing lane causing further crashes. The occupants from those vehicles reported minor injuries or no injuries at all. The crash remains under investigation. The Maine State Police was assisted on scene by Newport Fire and Rescue, Maine DOT, and Blanchard’s Towing.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at approximately 6:11 PM, Maine State Police Central Field Troop responded to 759 Main Street in Readfield for a report of a truck vs pedestrian crash. The Initial investigation indicates 76-year-old Andrews Tolman of Readfield was walking across Main Street after leaving the Readfield Historical society when he tripped and fell in the east bound lane. The driver of a 2021 Ram 5500 was travelling in the eastbound lane at the time and did not see Mr. Tolman lying in the road, resulting in Mr. Tolman being struck and killed. Speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash. The crash remains under investigation. MSP was assisted by the Readfield Fire Department and Winthrop EMS.

On Tuesday October 22, 2024, shortly after 7:00 AM, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit executed an arrest warrant and search warrant at 153 Rooks Road in Eddington. Taken into custody was 42-year-old Norman Dean Fannin on an extraditable arrest warrant out of Oregon for Class B felony sexual abuse – Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse. A search of Fannin’s residence was also conducted relating to an ongoing investigation by the Maine State Police for Disseminating Sexually Explicit Material.  He is being held at the Penobscot County Jail pending extradition proceedings.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, around noontime, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at 1484 Rt. 1 in the town of Hancock in reference to an ongoing investigation into Possession of Sexually Explicit Material. 47-year-old Peter Dysart was home at the time of the warrant and has been cooperative with the investigation. Once the investigation has been completed it will be reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office.

On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the Maine State Police Troop F received the report of a missing juvenile, Stefanie Damron, who is now 14 years old. Stefanie was last seen walking out of her house and into the woods located on the West Road in New Sweden on September 23, 2024. Maine State Police Troop F and the Major Crimes Unit North began investigating the circumstance surrounding Stefanie’s disappearance. The Major Crimes Unit North also collaborated with the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (CCU) and the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team (CARD) to ensure that all resources were utilized in finding Stefanie. Despite extensive investigative efforts, Stefanie remains missing. Investigators have conducted many interviews and followed up on leads in Maine, nationally, and in Canada. The Maine Warden Service and Maine State Police K9 Unit have searched large parcels of land near Stefanie’s last known location. The Major Crimes Unit will continue to investigate the case in partnership with the FBI’s CARD team. Stefanie is described as 5'0, 130 lbs., green eyes, and shoulder-length brown hair. Stefanie was last seen wearing blue jeans, a long sleeve blue shirt, and black Harley Davidson hiking boots. Anyone with any information about Stefanie’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Maine State Police Houlton Barracks at 1 (800) 924-2261 or (207) 532-5400.

The Maine State Police would like to thank Vermont State Police Colonel Matthew Birmingham and the New England State Police Administrator’s Conference (NESPAC) for conducting an independent review of the Maine State Police After Action Review (AAR) of the Lewiston Tragedy.  We greatly appreciate the time and work they dedicated to reviewing our AAR and supporting documents to achieve the most comprehensive feedback possible. 

The NESPAC partnership has served the New England State’s well in a variety of collaborations from resource sharing, specialized training and most notably the response to the Lewiston tragedy on October 25, 2023. The Maine State Police truly appreciate the opportunity to utilize the independent review’s feedback to further clarify our After-Action Review. We know that providing detailed information reference to our response can help our fellow Mainers with their own personal journey to wellness and recovery.

Colonel Ross and his team look forward to utilizing all of the feedback detailed in the commission’s report, our own after-action report and the attached independent review to start the implementation phase of this process. Continued training, policy review and collaboration with partner agencies from across the first responder spectrum is imperative and will be ongoing.

The Department of Public Safety and the Maine State Police honor all of the victims, their friends and family by staying “Lewiston Strong”.  

On Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at approximately 6:29 AM, the Waterville Police Department responded to the parking lot of Mount Joseph at Waterville at 7 Highwood Street for a report of multiple gunshots. Responding Waterville police officers located a deceased male inside a vehicle. Witnesses reported seeing a black Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck leaving the scene and were able to provide a license plate number to the officers. Area police agencies were alerted to be on the lookout for the vehicle. At approximately 8:55 AM, Clinton Police Chief Rusty Bell located the vehicle and driver 53-year-old Richard Hatt of Clinton in Clinton. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central and Evidence Response Technicians responded to the scene to interview witnesses and process the scene. Major Crimes and Waterville Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The victim of the shooting was 47-year-old Stephen Killam of Fairfield. Killam and Hatt were known to each other. The deceased will be transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy will be performed on Wednesday. Richard Hatt was arrested and charged with Murder. He has been transported to the Kennebec County Jail. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Waterville Police Department or the Maine State Police.

The Maine State Police and Waterville Police Department are investigating a shooting that happened on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at approximately 6:30 AM on Highwood Street in Waterville. An adult male is deceased. Major Crimes Unit Central Detectives are interviewing witnesses and Evidence Response Technicians are processing the scene. There is no danger to the public. We anticipate having additional information later this afternoon pending next of kin notification and progress of the investigation.